Transfer the FSMO Roles via NTDSUTIL

1. Click Start, click Run, type ntdsutil in the Open box, and then click OK.
   
2. Type roles, and then press ENTER.
   
3. Type connections, and then press ENTER.
   
4. Type connect to server servername, and then press ENTER, where servername is the name of the domain controller you want to assign the FSMO role to.
   
5. At the server connections prompt, type q, and then press ENTER.
   
6. Type transfer role, where role is the role that you want to transfer.
   

List of the FSMO roles:

• Transfer domain naming master
  
• Transfer infrastructure master
  
• Transfer PDC
  
• Transfer RID master
  
• Transfer schema master
  

  
  

1. At the fsmo maintenance prompt, type q, and then press ENTER to gain access to the ntdsutil prompt. Type q, and then press ENTER to quit the Ntdsutil utility.
   

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Seize the FSMO Roles via NTDSUTIL

1. Click Start, click Run, type ntdsutil in the Open box, and then click OK.
   
2. Type roles, and then press ENTER.
   
3. Type connections, and then press ENTER.
   
4. Type connect to server servername, and then press ENTER, where servername is the name of the domain controller you want to assign the FSMO role to.
   
5. At the server connections prompt, type q, and then press ENTER.
   
6. Type seize role, where role is the role that you want to transfer.
   

List of the FSMO roles:

• Seize domain naming master
  
• Seize infrastructure master
  
• Seize PDC
  
• Seize RID master
  
• Seize schema master
  

  
  

1. At the fsmo maintenance prompt, type q, and then press ENTER to gain access to the ntdsutil prompt. Type q, and then press ENTER to quit the Ntdsutil utility.
   

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Transfer the RID Master, PDC Emulator, and Infrastructure Master Roles via the GUI

1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers.
   
2. Right-click Active Directory Users and Computers, and then click Connect to Domain Controller.
   

NOTE: You must perform this step if you are not on the domain controller to which you want to transfer the role. You do not have to perform this step if you are already connected to the domain controller whose role you want to transfer.

1. Do one of the following:
   
   1. In the Enter the name of another domain controller box, type the name of the domain controller that will be the new role holder, and then click OK.
      
   2. -or-
      
   3. In the Or, select an available domain controller list, click the domain controller that will be the new role holder, and then click OK.
      
2. In the console tree, right-click Active Directory Users and Computers, point to All Tasks, and then click Operations Master.
   
3. Click the appropriate tab for the role that you want to transfer (RID, PDC, or Infrastructure), and then click Change.
   
4. Click OK to confirm that you want to transfer the role, and then click Close.
   

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Transfer the Domain Naming Master Role via the GUI

1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Domains and Trusts.
   
2. Right-click Active Directory Domains and Trusts, and then click Connect to Domain Controller.
   

NOTE: You must perform this step if you are not on the domain controller to which you want to transfer the role. You do not have to perform this step if you are already connected to the domain controller whose role you want to transfer.

1. Do one of the following:
   
   1. In the Enter the name of another domain controller box, type the name of the domain controller that will be the new role holder, and then click OK.
      
   2. -or-
      
   3. In the Or, select an available domain controller list, click the domain controller that will be the new role holder, and then click OK.
      
2. In the console tree, right-click Active Directory Domains and Trusts, and then click Operations Master.
   
3. Click Change.
   
4. Click OK to confirm that you want to transfer the role, and then click Close.
   

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Transfer the Schema Master Role via the GUI

Use the Active Directory Schema Master snap-in to transfer the schema master role. Before you can use this snap-in, you must register the Schmmgmt.dll file.

Register Schmmgmt.dll

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
   
2. Type regsvr32 schmmgmt.dll in the Open box, and then click OK.
   
3. Click OK when you receive the message that the operation succeeded.
   

Transfer the Schema Master Role

1. Click Start, click Run, type mmc in the Open box, and then click OK.
   
2. On the File, menu click Add/Remove Snap-in.
   
3. Click Add.
   
4. Click Active Directory Schema, click Add, click Close, and then click OK.
   
5. In the console tree, right-click Active Directory Schema, and then click Change Domain Controller.
   
6. Click Specify Name, type the name of the domain controller that will be the new role holder, and then click OK.
   
7. In the console tree, right-click Active Directory Schema, and then click Operations Master.
   
8. Click Change.
   
9. Click OK to confirm that you want to transfer the role, and then click Close.
   

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How to Determine the FSMO Holders via DSQuery

Schema Master Role

1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd in the Open box, and then press ENTER.
   
2. Type dsquery server -hasfsmo schema, and then press ENTER.
   

Domain Naming Master Role

1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd in the Open box, and then press ENTER.
   
2. Type dsquery server -hasfsmo name, and then press ENTER.
   

Infrastructure Master Role

1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd in the Open box, and then press ENTER.
   
2. Type dsquery server -hasfsmo infr, and then press ENTER.
   

PDC Emulator Role

1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd in the Open box, and then press ENTER.
   
2. Type dsquery server -hasfsmo pdc, and then press ENTER.
   

RID Master Role

1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd in the Open box, and then press ENTER.
   
2. Type dsquery server -hasfsmo rid, and then press ENTER.
   

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How to Determine the FSMO Holders via a Netdom

1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd in the Open box, and then press ENTER.
   
2. Type netdom query fsmo /Domain:<DomainDNSName>, and then press ENTER.
   

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